Review of The Basketball Diaries (1995) by Adam K — 07 Dec 2010
A gritty, dark and relentlessly realistic portrayal of Jim Carroll's descent from high school basketball star to street kid and heroin addict. The plot takes no prisoners and throws its misery in your face slowly and painfully.
To bear what this kid puts himself through is a complete turn against what films are supposed to provide to society. This is not an entertaining film, nor is it one that will make you smile in any way.
Its a deep screen story based on the words of somebody who lived it. Driven by talented performances and a visual style much reminiscent of later Scorsese and Abel Ferrara, this is a cautionary tale of the dangers of hard drugs, and the almost irreversible damage it can do to one's mind and body.
Anyone able to handle it should give it a viewing.
This review of The Basketball Diaries (1995) was written by Adam K on 07 Dec 2010.
The Basketball Diaries has generally received positive reviews.
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